Probably not. The standard of play was nowhere near what it is today. I never really had difficult matches until the semi-final or final of most tournaments so I had a breathing space for mistakes that I wouldn't have now. It was a great era because it was all so new and we were the first players to discover what was possible on a snooker table. I was cutting edge for a while.

2. How did you deal with the fame back then?

The first time I had an idea that people were interested in me was when a television crew filmed me going to the dry cleaners. That was strange. I was quickly made aware of the downside when some bloke came up to me in a nightclub and punched me for no reason. I still sign autographs for grannies if I go to the supermarket.

3. Are you sick of seeing clips of Dennis Taylor beating you in 1985?

If I hadn't been there I would honestly think I only played one shot [the missed black] in the entire match. I watched the deciding frame with Dennis a couple of years ago and couldn't remember much else beyond that black. I was shocked by some of the shots I missed, though I can laugh about it now.

4. What was it like to play against Alex Higgins?

He was very intimidating. I never used to like being around him socially because you never knew when the wheels were going to come off. We played exhibitions, which is how we made money away from tournaments, and the atmosphere would always be volatile and could turn sour quite quickly. The crowd always wanted him to win but I would stay behind to do trick shots, which often won them over.

5. Do you still listen to your top-10 single, 'Snooker Loopy'?

It wasn't a bad idea at the time, but anyone that still listens to it obviously needs to get out more. It is very trainspotter-like to know the words to it nowadays, but unfortunately I still do. I don't think even Chas 'n' Dave, who wrote it, can say that. The 12-inch version was never ending! My kids were amazed that I had made a record and one of them took it to school. The next thing I knew I had to print the words out for the entire class to learn. There is a whole section of a school in Brentwood that knows 'Snooker Loopy' off by heart.

6. You are 49 now. Has your attitude to snooker changed?

I don't really set myself goals because I am enjoying myself more now than 10 years ago, when I was feeling the heat just trying to justify my existence. I see players under pressure and suffering because they are trying too hard. Somewhere down the line they will be in the situation I am in now and will be better players for it.

7. How is the online poker career going?

I'm still addicted. If I had to make a living from it, however, I would probably be selling the Big Issue

8. You like Seventies soul and we once put Glastonbury in touch with you to see if you would DJ there. Did you do it?

I didn't feel as though I had the right to, so I turned it down. There are other people who should be higher up the pecking order than me.

9. How good is Ronnie O'Sullivan?

Higgins was fantastic, but nowhere near Ronnie. He is just breathtaking. There are moments when he is unbeatable, but the standard is so high that players can put him under pressure and he makes mistakes. He pummelled poor Ding Junhui in the Masters final in January. That was as near to perfection as I have seen.

10. Our favourite of your nicknames is 'Romford Slim'. Which one do you like?

I have to go with 'Interesting', because I've made a living from it. The whole Spitting Image thing, from which it came, was bizarre and showed what heady days they were for snooker. I ended up writing a book that gave tips on being interesting. The boring thing - it wasn't cruel, was it?

· Born in London in 1957, Davis won his first world title in 1981. The next year, he hit the first televised 147 maximum break. He is a BBC commentator.